Rapper Shawty Lo was reportedly killed in a car accident early Wednesday morning (September 21) in his native town of Atlanta.

His passing was initially reported by radio personality Headkrack and later confirmed by his manager Johnny Cabbell in a Twitter post. Lo’s brother used the rapper's Twitter to tweet a short ode about his death. “My brother has passed he is no longer here but his spirit, his kind heart, and his music will live on Long live Shawty Lo King of Bankhead,” it reads.

Initially, the fatal accident was reported by police as a hit-and-run, but later confirmed to only involve a single vehicle. Lo’s white Audi reportedly went over a guardrail, hit trees and caught fire. Police say two other passengers were in the car and taken to the hospital with varying injuries. He and the passengers had been at the Blue Flame Lounge in ATL just hours before the accident.

Shawty Lo, born Carlos Walker, was 40 years old at the time of his passing. He leaves behind eleven children who were famously featured on his Oxygen show All My Babies’ Mamas. Lo was also a founding member of D4L and known for his own solo hit “Dey Know.” In 2008, Shawty Lo won Rookie of the Year at the BET Hip Hop Awards. He also won Track of the Year for “Dey Know” that same year.

As a group, D4L’s song “Laffy Taffy” was a seminal example of the “snap rap” movement and it, along with Soulja Boy’s “Crank That,” would continuously top the charts in 2006. Eventually Shawty Lo would sign his D4L Records under 50 Cent’s G-Unit South imprint in 2011.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Shawty Lo’s family and friends at this time. We will keep you updated with any further details as they’re made available.

View video of Lo’s Audi being removed from the crash scene as well as numerous confirmations of his passing below.